Innehållsförteckning för June 2024 från Banknote Reporter

This is a classic pair of $5 Series of 1882 Brown Back proofs from the same bank where the title block in the top note was made using BEP Chief Engraver George Casilear’s patented lettering technology and the bottom proof from a hand-engraved die. The patented letter title blocks were made from premade alphabets where the various lines of text were laid in one letter at a time. They came under fire for looking mechanical, so the Bureau of Engraving and Printing replaced them as workloads permitted. The patented letter plate was certified on May 21, 1884; the handen-graved replacement Nov. 11, 1887. The changeover sheet serials between the two are 1700/1701, with the first delivery from the replacement plate arriving at the Comptroller’s office on Dec. 19, 1887. Generally,…

Zimbabwe’s currency has been through a lot. In 1980 the Zimbabwe dollar replaced the Rhodesian dollar on par. Beginning in August 1991 the value of this Zimbabwe dollar began to erode dramatically. In August 2006 the dollar was redenominated at an exchange rate of 1,000 to one in what the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe called Operation Sunrise. In July 2008 the dollar was once again redenominated, this time at a rate of 10 billion ZWN dollars to one new dollar. At this time a severe cash shortage coupled with the quickly diminishing value of the domestic currency brought about foreign currency being legalized as de facto currency. Zimbabwe’s government stopped publishing inflation figures in 2007. It has been estimated inflation was greater than 100,000 percent in January 2008, increasing to…

The recently completed Hong Kong World Paper Money Sale shattered the May 2022 Hong Kong record for the highest-grossing world bank note sale. Over $3.6 million in bank notes changed hands. The Peter She Collection, offered in its own catalog of just over 500 lots, fetched more than $750,000. Highlights included a Yue Soo Imperial Bank 1 Dollar in lot 30292 that realized $38,400 and lot 30481, a Hong Kong Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China note that found a new home for $31,200. The well-rounded offering in the Peter She session saw lots from the Empire, Provincial, Foreign, and People’s Republic of China all realize significant prices. In Session C, the DL World Collection sent shockwaves through the auction room when a pair of Pei-Yang Color Trials crossed…

It is apparent that interest in Small Size varieties, particularly mules, is at an all-time high based on what I have been reading in the Small Note Variety Collectors Facebook forum. I thought you might enjoy a mule I obtained decades ago that has a lot going for it. I admit, it takes a real variety wonk to appreciate such things, so here goes. Figure 1 is a scarce silver certificate $10 Series of 1934A mule but also from late-finished face plate 87. Consequently, it classifies as a two-variety note. It carries micro back plate serial number 553 and macro face serial 87, the difference makes it a mule. Silver certificate $10 Series of 1934 mules, with their micro face and macro back plate numbers, are among the most common…

Approximately 95 percent of Emporium Coin and Currency’s stock was stolen after the Central States Numismatic Society show that was held May 1-4 in Schaumburg, Ill. The Minnesota-based dealer reported over half a million dollars’ worth of collector paper money stolen straight out of a car. The company reports that they are still in business, focusing on selling the remaining 5 percent of their inventory while they work with Des Plaines Police Department and the Numismatic Crimes Information Center to recover the stolen currency. “Things will work out one way or the other. Thanks to all my friends for all your love and concern,” said Ed, owner of Emporium. He encourages anyone with any information to step forward, appealing to his regular audience with a special bulletin included in the…

The BCRA has put a new ARS10,000 bank note into circulation. They will gradually be distributed through a network of bank branches and ATMs across Argentina. The bank note features the portrait of Manuel Belgrano and María Remedios del Valle, heroine of the War of Independence, on the obverse. The reverse displays an artistic recreation of the pledge of allegiance to the Argentine flag that took place on Feb. 27, 1812. The portrait of Belgrano is attributed to François Casimir Carbonnier, a French artist, and del Valle belongs to the work “La Capitana” (The Captain) by Gisela Banzer, an Argentine artist. The ARS10,000 bank note, as well as the ARS20,000 bank note with the portrait of Juan Bautista Alberdi—which will be released into circulation in the last quarter of 2024—will…

It’s time to dust off your passports and get excited about seeing some of the coins you usually only read about. We are headed to the United Kingdom! Numismatic News, World Coin News and Bank Note Reporter editors Maggie Pahl and Sophia Mattimiro have teamed up with a seasoned travel agency to bring you a week immersed in world coins in London and Wales. Our adventure, taking place Sept. 25 through Oct. 2, features amazing numismatic attractions such as the British Museum’s collection of money, the Coinex 2024 show, a V.I.P. tour of the British Royal Mint and more. A week of sensational coin exploration awaits. “Our team couldn’t be more excited to offer this outstanding travel opportunity to the numismatics community,” said Pahl. “Getting the chance to tour some…

An 1863 Ten Dollar, Judd-349 PR64 Cameo, PCGS. CAC soared to a record $810,000 to lead Heritage’s CSNS US Coins Signature® Auction to $27,825,772. That total, combined with Heritage’s CSNS Currency Signature® Auction, which ended at $12,610,964, and the CSNS World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction that reached $11,904,407 raised the total for the three events to $52,341,143. A Fr. 2231-A $10,000 1934 Federal Reserve Note. PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ topped preauction expectations when it closed at $432,000 to lead Heritage’s CSNS Currency Signature® Auction to $12,610,964. “The allure of ultra-high denomination banknotes continues to grow, and this note is a perfect example of the kinds of notes that the most serious collectors covet,” says Dustin Johnston, Vice President of Currency at Heritage Auctions. “This marked…

First, I have to correct some typos from Part 1. I somehow described Series 1935 as 1940 and Series 1935A as 1941. There are no series 1940 or 1941. The 1935B and 1935C issues were made possible by changes in those people signing the notes. In the 1935D notes, however, there were changes to the size of the bottom margins. The Wide and Narrow varieties were signed by John W. Snyder and George Neese Clark, with Clark replacing Julian after his tragic death on May 26, 1949, in a car accident. Clark was appointed on June 21, 1949. The 1935D Wide versions were printed in sheets of 12. The Narrow sheets of 1935D were printed in sheets of 18. The star notes below form a reverse changeover, as the Wide…

The Higgins Museum of National Bank Notes, located in Okoboji, Iowa, has the largest collection of National bank notes on display in a permanent exhibit. On Thursday, August 1, 2024, The Higgins Museum will sponsor a one-day symposium on National bank notes. The symposium will include five speakers including Joe Boling, Jesse Kraft, Lee Lofthus, Cody Regennitter and Joe Ridder. Registration is $75, with a $10 discount for members of the Central States of Iowa Numismatic Associations. Registration also includes morning coffee and a light lunch. For more information, contact George Cuhaj at curator@thehigginsmuseum.org. The Higgins Museum opened in 1978 with the purpose of the acquisition, preservation and display of National bank notes bank notes and their related artifacts and reference materials.…

JUNE 2024 U.S. Paper Money Price Guide Due to the recent dramatic increase in the spot price of both gold and silver, the value of many intrinsically valued coins has been appreciating. Since bank notes aren’t viewed as a commodity, our modern bank notes being unbacked fiat currency, any increase in collector value is based purely on supply and demand. The Spring 2024 Stacks Bowers Galleries U.S. Currency Showcase Auction was described by the auction house as having “intense collector interest.” Coins, numismatic Americana and physical cryptocurrency accompanied truly rare bank notes to total $32 million. It took 14 sessions to wade through all the lots, two of these sessions being dedicated exclusively to U.S. bank notes. Stack’s Bowers described some of these lots as being “impeccable and historic rarities…

The Spring 2024 Maastricht Auction, held on May 9 offered 711 lots of paper money from all over the world. Held in conjunction with the MIF Paper Money Fair, the sale saw nearly $1.4 million in prices realized, driven by bidders participating from around the globe. “We were delighted to see everyone again at what became the most heavily attended MIF show to date. The response to Dennis Hengeveld joining the team was as tremendous as the record-setting results on many of the lots in the sale,” said Aris Maragoudakis, the firm’s Director of World Currency. Results from the single session were led by two notes from the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank from the Al Kugel Collection. Lot 50223, a 10 Dollar specimen from Tsingtau graded PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 realized $78,000,…

Double denomination errors (also known as dual denomination errors) are the pinnacle of error note collecting. Affectionally named the “King of Errors”, they are widely sought after and command very high prices. While these errors can be found on Federally issued currency, Obsolete notes and Fractionals, not all double denominations are errors. This three-part series will explore the many facets of this regal collector’s item. In many cases, a note can contain multiple denominations that were done intentionally. For example, there were some Obsoletes (in part two of this series) with valuations in both U.S. dollars and British pounds or Spanish pesos. On Fractional test notes (in part three of this series), the Treasury was experimenting with different inks, paper and surcharges for notes never meant for circulation, resulting in…